Canada
Argentina 
Australia 
Austria 
Brazil 
Chile 
Czechia 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Italy 
Mexico 
New Zealand 
Nigeria 
Norway 
Poland 
Portugal 
Sweden 
Switzerland 
United Kingdom 
United States Vladimir Guerrero Jr. deadline for long-term deal with Blue Jays ...
Descrease article font size
Increase article font size
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s self-imposed deadline to get a deal done with the Toronto Blue Jays came and went on Tuesday as the 25-year-old slugger officially reported to training camp in Dunedin, Fla.
The face of the MLB franchise had said in the past he would play out the season and become a free agent if a new deal was not done by the time training camp started.
Guerrero did not provide any specifics on the talks while speaking with reporters on Tuesday morning but he did say the two sides were not close on a deal.
“We never got to the point where I felt like I wanted to do the deal,” he said.
The first basemen still left the door open on a new deal with the Blue Jays.
Story continues below advertisement
“I won’t close it, the door, if it’s a realistic offer,” he said through an interpreter.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
That news will be a slight sigh of relief to restless Blue Jays fans who want Toronto general manager Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro to get this deal done after they have missed out on a number of signings over the past two offseasons including Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto over the last two years.
Those fans will find little solace in hearing Atkins comments from Dunedin on Tuesday morning.
More on Sports More videos
“We worked very hard and the motivation is still there,” Atkins said. “I’m confident that every thought, idea we had – every dollar that we had – was communicated. But we’re obviously disappointed to not have gotten that done.
Trending Now
-
Trump admin fires hundreds of U.S. air traffic control staff
-
Toronto plane crash: Delta flight overturns at Pearson airport, multiple injuries
“It doesn’t change our desire. We will certainly be motivated and remain motivated.”
Guerrero, initially signed with the Blue Jays as a 16-year-old in 2015, and spent a few years in the minor-league system before making his debut in 2019.
Over the past four seasons, he has averaged 34 homers and 101 RBIs and in 2024 he hit .323 with 30 homers and 103 RBIs.
The two sides avoided arbitration when they agreed to a $28.5-million deal as Guerrero enters final year of team control.
Story continues below advertisement
The Blue Jays will kick off the pre-season on Saturday against the New York Yankees. They will open their regular season by hosting the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre.
*With files from The Canadian Press
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
